Girlracer
Well-Known Member
Well, I don't know where to start really... it's been a bit of a whirlwind year, I apologise this could be lengthy!
I remember in March 2015 - whilst recovering from yet another nasty accident whilst jumping and sporting a nicely broken arm to go with the leg of the previous year - that I would quite happily give it all up and move on.
I cannot tell you how lucky I feel that I was tagged in a post for an event horse called King looking for a loan home that month, the devastation that just 3 months later I was forced to send him back, and the joy at being asked to go and see him again another two months after that...
I remember again another month later in September 2015, having fallen off King in my XC lesson, sitting on my own in the back of the trailer crying because I knew I would never get to go eventing. That 5 years of struggling, falling off and breaking limbs had taken it's toll and no matter how genuine a horse I was sat on I just didn't have what it takes anymore...
And then, thinking I was going to loose him again when his owners needed to sell... I have no words to express how grateful I am to his owners (who I hope will be reading this!) for making it possible for him to stay with me. It is purely because of them that this year has happened.
2016 could not have been more different than 2015.
In January, i thought it would be a nice idea to try and take King hunting.
This in hindsight, not the smartest move, and I did end up chasing after him on foot before being subjected to the 'walk of shame' home.
However shortly after that (probably at the relief of his owners!) he became 'officially' mine, and I moved him 'home' with Major (the culprit of the broken limbs, for those that don't know... but also absolutely lovely!).
Shortly afterwards, in March, we headed to Offchurch Bury for our first event of the season.
I can tell you now, that the dressage was dreadful, the Show Jumping was out of control and I contemplated giving up eventing (again) and taking up out of control Show Jumping instead. Before having the most amazing round XC, and coming home absolutely beaming (and with plenty of too fast time faults).
We had another couple of 'arena eventing' outings.
We then headed to Swalcliffe in May, for another 80, with confidence on an all time high...
We improved out dressage, but still above the elusive 'sub 40', had a slightly more controlled 4 fault Show Jump and despite the rain the most amazing round XC (with many of those naughty time faults again).
We then spent the weekend at camp again, and honestly it was incredible... we had the most amazing time, learnt so much and were looking ready to step up to 90.
We then took part in our first RC event with CROWN riding club... a two day event at Princethorpe. WOW is all I can say... it was an incredible experience. Bucket list item number two ticked off in 2016 (number one being going eventing!), to complete an event with roads and tracks and steeplechase! I can safely say I have never been cheered on so much in my entire life... CROWN are genuinely the most supportive bunch i've ever met.
This unfortunately didn't go quite according to plan... and King took a great dislike to a bus next to the second to last fence and we had and unfortunate and very costly stop.
We did however then plan our step up to 90... and this is where we came un-stuck... and I am still kicking myself for it now.
I decided to do a Pre area PC two phase event at Offchurch Bury, what I hadn't realised was that this would be built full up to height and at the max of difficulty in prep for areas the following week. I walked the course and should have at that point decided against it, fence three was a jump one stride into water then out of the water to a corner on undulating ground. That coupled with the fact that the 5 horses before me had been eliminated XC hadn't filled me full of confidence.
He then struggled for confidence on wet (as you can see from the photo!) ground, jumped OK SJ before we had a stop at the corner I had been worried about. He then slipped over when I turned to try again, and really it went downhill from there!
The following day, he threw the towel in completely and wouldn't jump so much as a cross pole.
A quick change of plan and we dropped back to 80 for the RC ODE at Solihull the following weekend, but the mojo had well and truely left the building. And I have no shame in admitting I cried and awful lot after choosing to retire XC after 3 un characteristic stops having completed a season goal of a sub 40 dressage.
He then had a 2 week holiday, to think about things...
Before starting again, from scratch, by moving to a yard with an arena to build his confidence back up. And have plenty of fun!
We then made a return to competition at the RC SJ competition at Solihull, where we had a few speedy poles in the 80/85cm SJ and a lovely clear in the 85cm style jumping.
I remember in March 2015 - whilst recovering from yet another nasty accident whilst jumping and sporting a nicely broken arm to go with the leg of the previous year - that I would quite happily give it all up and move on.
I cannot tell you how lucky I feel that I was tagged in a post for an event horse called King looking for a loan home that month, the devastation that just 3 months later I was forced to send him back, and the joy at being asked to go and see him again another two months after that...
I remember again another month later in September 2015, having fallen off King in my XC lesson, sitting on my own in the back of the trailer crying because I knew I would never get to go eventing. That 5 years of struggling, falling off and breaking limbs had taken it's toll and no matter how genuine a horse I was sat on I just didn't have what it takes anymore...
And then, thinking I was going to loose him again when his owners needed to sell... I have no words to express how grateful I am to his owners (who I hope will be reading this!) for making it possible for him to stay with me. It is purely because of them that this year has happened.
2016 could not have been more different than 2015.
In January, i thought it would be a nice idea to try and take King hunting.
This in hindsight, not the smartest move, and I did end up chasing after him on foot before being subjected to the 'walk of shame' home.
However shortly after that (probably at the relief of his owners!) he became 'officially' mine, and I moved him 'home' with Major (the culprit of the broken limbs, for those that don't know... but also absolutely lovely!).
Shortly afterwards, in March, we headed to Offchurch Bury for our first event of the season.
I can tell you now, that the dressage was dreadful, the Show Jumping was out of control and I contemplated giving up eventing (again) and taking up out of control Show Jumping instead. Before having the most amazing round XC, and coming home absolutely beaming (and with plenty of too fast time faults).
We had another couple of 'arena eventing' outings.
We then headed to Swalcliffe in May, for another 80, with confidence on an all time high...
We improved out dressage, but still above the elusive 'sub 40', had a slightly more controlled 4 fault Show Jump and despite the rain the most amazing round XC (with many of those naughty time faults again).
We then spent the weekend at camp again, and honestly it was incredible... we had the most amazing time, learnt so much and were looking ready to step up to 90.
We then took part in our first RC event with CROWN riding club... a two day event at Princethorpe. WOW is all I can say... it was an incredible experience. Bucket list item number two ticked off in 2016 (number one being going eventing!), to complete an event with roads and tracks and steeplechase! I can safely say I have never been cheered on so much in my entire life... CROWN are genuinely the most supportive bunch i've ever met.
This unfortunately didn't go quite according to plan... and King took a great dislike to a bus next to the second to last fence and we had and unfortunate and very costly stop.
We did however then plan our step up to 90... and this is where we came un-stuck... and I am still kicking myself for it now.
I decided to do a Pre area PC two phase event at Offchurch Bury, what I hadn't realised was that this would be built full up to height and at the max of difficulty in prep for areas the following week. I walked the course and should have at that point decided against it, fence three was a jump one stride into water then out of the water to a corner on undulating ground. That coupled with the fact that the 5 horses before me had been eliminated XC hadn't filled me full of confidence.
He then struggled for confidence on wet (as you can see from the photo!) ground, jumped OK SJ before we had a stop at the corner I had been worried about. He then slipped over when I turned to try again, and really it went downhill from there!
The following day, he threw the towel in completely and wouldn't jump so much as a cross pole.
A quick change of plan and we dropped back to 80 for the RC ODE at Solihull the following weekend, but the mojo had well and truely left the building. And I have no shame in admitting I cried and awful lot after choosing to retire XC after 3 un characteristic stops having completed a season goal of a sub 40 dressage.
He then had a 2 week holiday, to think about things...
Before starting again, from scratch, by moving to a yard with an arena to build his confidence back up. And have plenty of fun!
We then made a return to competition at the RC SJ competition at Solihull, where we had a few speedy poles in the 80/85cm SJ and a lovely clear in the 85cm style jumping.
faults, finished with an incredible XC round. And again... I cried, just so happy to have him back! 
Well done! Great year 
